As the current leader in the F4 United States Championship Powered by Honda points battle, Australian Lochie Hughes has inked a deal to rejoin Jay Howard’s Driver Development (JHDD) program in 2023. Set to make the move to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, Hughes will aim to continue his winning ways in the first rung in the popular Road to Indy ladder program and will begin that quest in a few weeks’ time at the annual RTI Fall Combine Open Test.

With four wins and six podiums to date this season, Hughes is the current points leader in the F4 Championship and will have three more chances to stand atop the F4 podium this weekend at VIRginia International Raceway.

“I am focused on this weekend and of course winning the F4 championship, but I also can’t help to look forward to 2023,” expressed Hughes. “I think I have been able to prove myself here in North America and look forward to closing this year strong and starting next year with a bang.”

Testing the waters by competing in a pair of Cooper Tires USF2000 events in 2022, Team Owner Jay Howard is confident Hughes is ready for the move to USF2000 and ready to fight for the championship.

“Lochie is the real deal and will have a long and successful career in motorsports,” added Jay Howard. “I am happy to retain him as part of the JHDD program in 2023 and look forward to helping him continue the progression in his career.”

Hughes will begin his 2023 preparations at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the RTI Fall Combine over the October 22-23 weekend.